Have you ever wondered if you can use your EBT card to buy protein powder or other supplemental nutrition products? With food prices on the rise, more people are turning to federal food assistance programs like SNAP to help make ends meet. And when every dollar counts, you want to make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t eligible for purchase with your EBT benefits.
The short answer is yes – you can buy certain types of protein powder with EBT. However, not all protein powders qualify as EBT-eligible.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know, including:
- What is EBT and SNAP?
- What food items you can (and can’t) buy with EBT
- Specifically whether protein powder is eligible for EBT purchase
- Lists of EBT-eligible powders – both plant-based and whey
- Where you can shop for EBT-eligible protein products
- Other surprising non-food items you can actually buy with EBT
- How to apply for SNAP benefits if you qualify
So if you’re looking to use your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) money to buy protein shakes, bars, or powders, read on for all the details!
What is EBT and SNAP?
EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. This is the electronic system that state governments use to issue SNAP benefits – also known as food stamps – to eligible low-income individuals and families.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly and more commonly known as food stamps, provides monthly benefits to supplement the food budget of over 41 million Americans. These benefits are distributed monthly on EBT cards.
Your SNAP EBT card works similarly to a debit card. It can be swiped at checkout to pay for eligible food items at over 248,000 authorized retailers across the country.
So in short – EBT is how you access and use your federal SNAP benefits.
What Food Items Are Eligible for Purchase with EBT?
The government aims to provide SNAP benefits to help low-income households access basic nutritional food items. So what can you actually buy with EBT at the grocery store or supermarket?
According to the USDA’s SNAP guidelines, eligible food items include:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish, poultry
- Dairy products
- Snack foods
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants to produce food for the household
On the other hand, SNAP EBT benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Alcohol or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, or supplements
- Hot prepared foods
- Pet food
- Cleaning products, paper products, household supplies
- Hygiene items or cosmetics
With a fairly broad range of eligible staple food items, where does protein powder fall? Keep reading to find out!
Can You Buy Protein Powder with EBT?
The answer is yes – you can purchase some types of protein powder with your SNAP EBT benefits.
However, SNAP rules prohibit using benefits to buy nutritional supplements or vitamins. So in order to be EBT-eligible, a protein powder must be classified and labeled as a food item rather than a supplement.
Many protein powders are intentionally labeled as conventional food by the manufacturer and have a Nutrition Facts label instead of a Supplement Facts label. This makes them eligible for purchase with EBT.
On the other hand, some protein powder companies choose to label their products as supplements, typically to make certain marketing claims. These protein powders have a Supplement Facts label and cannot be purchased with food stamp benefits.
So to recap – protein powders that are sold as food items with a Nutrition Facts label can be bought with EBT. Protein powders sold as dietary supplements with a Supplement Facts label cannot.
Lists of EBT-Eligible Protein Powders
Wondering which specific protein shake and powder brands are EBT-approved? Here are lists of some popular plant-based and whey protein products that are intended as food items rather than supplements:
Plant-Based Protein Powders
- Orgain Organic Protein
- Garden of Life Meal Replacement
- Garden of Life Sport
- NAKED Pea Protein
- KOS Organic Plant-Based Protein
- Vega Sport Premium Protein
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Plant
- NOW Sports Pea Protein
Whey & Other Animal Protein Powders
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
- Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
- MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder
- Isopure Zero Carb Whey Protein
- BSN Syntha-6 Protein Powder
- Levels Grass-Fed Whey Protein
- Ascent Native Fuel Whey Protein
- Premier Protein Shakes
Again – always check that the product has a Nutrition Facts label, not Supplement Facts. And if shopping online, look for the EBT eligible tag to confirm.
What Stores Accept EBT for Protein Powder Purchases?
Major supermarket chains and stores that sell groceries accept EBT payments across the country. So you can likely buy EBT-eligible protein powders at grocery stores near you, such as:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Safeway
- Publix
- H-E-B
- Albertsons
- Whole Foods
- Sprouts
- Aldi
- Costco
- Sam’s Club
However, specialized chains like GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, and Whole Foods Market 365 that focus exclusively on supplements do not accept EBT payments.
Many online retailers also accept EBT for grocery purchases through SNAP online programs. This includes sites like Amazon and Walmart that sell EBT-eligible protein powders.
To purchase groceries online with your EBT card:
- Browse specifically for items labeled as EBT eligible
- Add them to cart and proceed to checkout
- Select EBT as payment method
- Enter your 16-digit EBT card number
So buying protein shakes and powders online with EBT is easy – just find a qualifying product from an authorized SNAP online retailer!
Other Surprising Non-Food Items You Can Buy with EBT
Given the rules about what types of nutritional products are eligible for SNAP purchase with EBT, you might assume the list is limited to basic groceries. However, there are actually some surprising non-food items that can legally be purchased with EBT!
Here are a few examples of the unexpected things you can buy with EBT:
Seeds and Plants That Produce Food
As mentioned earlier, seeds and plants that will produce food for your household are eligible. This includes vegetable seedlings, herb starter plants, and dwarf fruit trees.
Coffee Pods
Coffee itself is not eligible, but K-cups and other single-serve coffee pods with a nutrition facts label can actually be bought with EBT benefits!
Energy Drinks
Surprisingly, most energy drinks are labeled as food rather than supplements. So they can be purchased with SNAP benefits!
Gift Baskets
Gift baskets that only contain SNAP-eligible food items can qualify for EBT payment. However, any non-food items must be paid for separately.
Hot Foods
While ready-to-eat hot foods cannot be paid for, hot items meant to be taken home like rotisserie chicken can be bought with EBT.
So in some cases, you may be able to use your EBT card to buy more than just basic staple groceries!
How Can I Apply for SNAP Benefits?
If the idea of receiving monthly grocery money on an EBT card interests you, the first step is applying for SNAP to see if you qualify.
Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on your household size, income, expenses, and other state-specific factors. But here is some key information about applying for food stamps:
- SNAP applications are handled individually by each state
- You can apply online, by phone, mail, fax, or in person
- Documentation needed may include ID, pay stubs, bills, bank statements
- Student eligibility has special restrictions
- Approval time can range from 7-30 days
Visit your state’s SNAP webpage for application details, office locations, and contacts near you. Some non-profit organizations also have navigators who can assist with applying for SNAP benefits.
So if you could use some grocery assistance, see if you qualify for SNAP today!
The Bottom Line: Yes, You Can Buy Some Protein Powder with EBT!
We hope this guide gave you a thorough understanding of buying protein shakes and powders with your SNAP EBT food stamp benefits.
The key takeaways:
- Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is how eligible recipients access Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds each month
- SNAP benefits can be used to buy staple food items but not medicines, supplements, or hot prepared meals
- Protein powder can be purchased with EBT as long as it is labeled as a food with Nutrition Facts
- Both plant-based and whey protein powders clearly labeled as food are EBT-eligible
- Shop for EBT protein powders at grocery stores, retailers like Walmart and Amazon
- Surprisingly, some non-food items like coffee pods and energy drinks qualify too!
So hopefully you now feel informed about exactly what products you can and can’t buy with your SNAP EBT benefits. Keep this guide handy for reference on your next grocery run when you want to get the most value from your food stamps!
